UPDATE 1-Pakistan says soldier killed amid worsening Kashmir violence

January 10, 2013|Reuters

(Adds quotes, background)

By Katharine Houreld

ISLAMABAD, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Indian troops killed aPakistani soldier on Thursday in the disputed region of Kashmir,the Pakistani army said, in the worst outbreak of violence inthe area since the nuclear-armed neighbours agreed a ceasefirenearly a decade ago.

In the third fatal attack in five days, the Pakistani waskilled by "unprovoked" Indian fire while manning a post in theBattal sector of Kashmir, which is split between the two sidesby a heavily fortified border known as the Line of Control(LoC), the army spokesman said.

A Pakistani soldier was killed Sunday, and two Indiansoldiers were killed and mutilated on Tuesday, their respectivearmies said. The two sides have lodged diplomatic protests.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since becomingindependent from Britain in 1947, two of them over the Himalayanregion of Kashmir.

Ties had shown signs of improving in the past year afterrelations soured again in 2008 when Pakistan-based gunmenattacked India's financial capital of Mumbai, killing 166people.

Both governments have expressed anger over the latestKashmir attacks even as senior officials sought to calm fearsthat right-wing groups could seize the opportunity to derailyears of diplomatic rapprochement.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said she was"unpleasantly surprised" by Indian accusations against Pakistan,but tried allay fears that the stand-off could escalate.

"Pakistan government and the Pakistani people havedemonstrated a deep and abiding commitment to normalise andimprove relations with India and to really start a journey oftrust-building," she said.

UNEXPECTED RISE IN VIOLENCE

Pakistani villagers living near the Line of Control said ithad mostly been quiet in recent years, although sporadicshooting was common. The recent uptick in violence wasunexpected.

"On Sunday there was intense shelling between Indian andPakistan troops. It was many years since we've seen such athing," said Tehzeeb un Nisa, the head of the administration in Darra Haji Pir, where the Pakistani soldier was killed Sunday.

"We have condemned (the killings of Indian soldiers) ... Ihope it never happens again."

Pakistan called for the U.N. to investigate the recentattacks. A team monitoring the ceasefire has been in place foraround 60 years.

Pakistan reported Sunday's killing to the United Nations.

"We are certainly not going to agree to internationalise theissue or allow the United Nations to hold an inquiry. Thatdemand is obviously rejected out of hand," said India FinanceMinister P. Chidambaram.

In recent years both governments have signalled theirintentions to repair ties even though they remain divided overKashmir's status.

Indian officials said that Pakistani militants could be toblame. They said the founder of banned militant groupLashkar-e-Taiba had recently visited Kashmir, potentially toincite violence.

"We have been informed Hafiz Saeed entered the PoK (PakistanOccupied Kashmir) area and had talks with some people," saidIndian Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.

Hafiz Saeed is suspected of masterminding the Mumbai attack.

The United States has offered $10 million for informationleading to his arrest and conviction.